As far as heart health goes, all saunas work on the same principle: They induce a deep sweat to make the heart pump faster, which in turn increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and helps circulation. Unfortunately, traditional steam saunas can have big drawbacks for the elderly or ill. These saunas heat the air to around 180 degrees and can make breathing difficult. If used incorrectly, they can even cause heat stroke.

In Japan, where infrared saunas have been main-stream for decades, a 2001 Kagoshima University study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (38;4:1083-8) followed at-risk men undergoing daily sauna sessions for two weeks. Doctors observed a 68 percent increase in the blood flow of the men’s brachial arteries, as well as “significant” drops in their blood pressures. The doctors concluded that “repeated sauna treatment improves impaired vascular endothelial function... suggesting a therapeutic role for sauna treatment in patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis.”

In North America, a 2005 University of Missouri trial further explored the connection between infrared saunas and lower blood pressure. Here, test subjects sat in Sunlighten-brand saunas thrice weekly for six weeks and experienced an average drop of systolic blood pressure from 130.5 to 124. Almost identical blood pressure improvements appear in a 2010 paper written by Canadian doctor Richard Beever, MD. In his study of type 2 diabetes sufferers, Dr. Beever found an average decrease in patients’ systolic blood pressure of 124 to 118.

The future looks bright for infrared saunas, but why grab those rays from a Sunlighten? For starters, the technology. Sunlighten’s Solocarbon® wall heaters put out evenly distributed, cool-to-the-touch heating in contrast to the ceramic rods used in other infrared saunas. Sunlighten’s also developed the “mPulse” line of saunas that track calories burned, heart rate, and body mass index changes, as well as let users select the exact type of infrared rays—near, mid, or far—they wish to receive.

Finally, there’s Sunlighten’s partnership with the American Heart Association, which named Sunlighten one of its “Fit Friendly Companies.” For their part, Sunlighten’s co-owners serve on the board of their local AHA chapter and donate a portion of sales every February during American Heart Month.

Whether you’re older and unable to exercise regularly in Copiah County, Mississippi, or you simply want to supplement an existing workout, Sunlighten infrared saunas have emerged as a powerful and popular option for maintaining cardiovascular health. When it comes to getting a handle on heart disease, we see a light at the end of the tunnel—and it’s infrared.